Tabs

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Review: The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

From the Back Cover:

From exotic sandstone palaces...

Sick of tragedy, done with rebellion, Emmaline Martin vows to settle quietly into British Indian society. But when the pillars of privilege topple, her fiance's betrayal leaves Emma no choice. She must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dangerous and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn.

To the marble halls of London...

In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. Cynical and impatient with both worlds, Julian has never imagined that the place he might belong is in the embrace of a woman with a reluctant laugh and haunted eyes. But in a time of terrible darkness, he and Emma will discover that love itself can be perilous - and that a single decision can alter one's life forever.

Destiny follows wherever you run.

A lifetime of grief later, in a cold London spring, Emma and Julian must finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned...and some passions never die.

My review:

Part One of this book is utter perfection. Not a word out of place; two wonderfully original, compelling characters; an exotic yet deadly locale where unrest and uncertainty lurk in the shadows; and a grand adventure that finds our lovers fleeing for their lives through the desert seeking only to survive but finding so much more.

Part Two takes place in London, oceans away in terms of both time and place. Here the story lapses into more standard Regency romance form and I found myself becoming annoyed with the characters' actions, (though they would not have been out of place in any other romance), and the magic was dimmed a bit for me.

Even with my disappointment that the second half did not live up to the standards set in the first half, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story, finding myself on the edge of my seat and unable to put it down, and several weeks after finishing it, I still think about it and pick it up to reread certain passages. An excellent plot featuring star-crossed lovers alternating against a backdrop of war and savagery and the ignorant opulence of high society. The best historical romance I've read this year.

5 comments:

Your review mirrors many of my own reactions. This was a novel I loved in spite of any problems I had, largely due to the splendid first half. I hope Duran will return to India in some of her future work. We have enough London drawing room Victorians & Regencies. Her latest, although set in France, a location I particularly favour, did not engage me emotionally the way TDOS did. Her prose and characterisations, though, were, as always, captivating.

FTC Compliance

Though it is not always the case, for the sake of expediency, assume that all books reviewed on this site were provided by the author or publisher for voluntary review.

Currently Reading:

Currently Reading:

Writing a Novel?

I am an independent editor and cover designer specializing in historical fiction and romance. Click the pic to learn more about my services and read testimonials from my clients!

Book Reviewers Tell All!

Check out our presentation on book reviews from HNS 2017!

Review Policy

I am currently open to review requests. However, because my reading time is precious, I am very particular about the books I take on for review. I read across all time periods, but I prefer romantic historical fiction and historical romance. I also enjoy historical mysteries and young adult historicals. And I'm always on the lookout for something unique. I also expect high standards of quality. If I am unable to review your book but I think it's one my readers would like to know about, I may offer you an interview or guest post opportunity. I am currently scheduling reviews 2-3 months in advance. If you'd like to submit a review request, please email me a blurb along with links to your website and a sample of the book: JDQ1175@aol.com.

Weekends were made for books and leggings!

I'm a Legging Army affiliate. If you love super-soft, super-cute leggings, I've got you covered! New styles are added weekly, and shipping is free!

Let Them Read Books

Brought to you by Jenny Qaka: The Lady Quinlan

I love books! I love to read books, talk books, smell books, dream books! I love to escape into a different world, but I also like to learn while I'm reading, so historical fiction is a perfect fit for me, and my favorite genre.

I'm also a big fan of traditional fantasy, urban fantasy/paranormal romance, and futuristic/dystopian selections, and my tastes are far-ranging. You will find both Christian fiction and vampire erotica side-by-side on my favorites list!

I welcome friends, followers, opinions, and suggestions, so please make yourself known and then make yourself at home inThe Lady Quinlan's domain!